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Topic Review (Newest First)

04-22-2009 04:43 PM

sailingfool

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bene505

Yes the lens is leaking. I ought to try taking it apart and rebedding it. Not sure there's a downside since I'll have to get it professionally done anyway, if I do nothing or if I screw it up.

Either way, I REALLY want to stop the leaks.

Rebedding a lens is an easy task, the real work is completely removing all traces of the old sealant from the lens and frame. If the lens is vey hazy you might replace it now. You make a nice thick bead of silicone sealant in the frame, then seat the lens into the sealant, adding more from the top as needed. if you tape the lens edges, where it meets the frame underneath, and on top, you wont have a problem cleaning up the cured sealant, which you do with a razor. You need to treat the lens and I believe the frame with a corrosive primer to give the silicone a finish to bite on. I'd contact your hatch manufacturer for thier product recommendations, you will sell you thier sealant and primer for 3 times the price of similar stuff.

My guess is that you'll find fixing this one of the easier jobs on a boat.

04-22-2009 10:58 AM

Bene505

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingfool

If your issue is that the lens in a hatch is leaking, then you should just remove and rebed the lens...using only silicone, unless the OEM has a different specific recommendation. It's a simple job, the work is mostly removing the old sealant from the lens and the alu frame. Get those clean, and resetting the lens is a piece of cake, and it will last for many years. Smearing a coat on top may not be successful, and is not likely to look too good.

Yes the lens is leaking. I ought to try taking it apart and rebedding it. Not sure there's a downside since I'll have to get it professionally done anyway, if I do nothing or if I screw it up.

Either way, I REALLY want to stop the leaks.

04-22-2009 07:47 AM

MC1

What is the best way to remove the lens, using a flat razor blade from underneath or what?

04-22-2009 07:10 AM

sailingdog

And if you take the time to do it right immediately, you won't spend all the time trying to fix it later, or fix the damage from the leaks the half-assed approach will leave you to deal with.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingfool

If your issue is that the lens in a hatch is leaking, then you should just remove and rebed the lens...using only silicone, unless the OEM has a different specific recommendation. It's a simple job, the work is mostly removing the old sealant from the lens and the alu frame. Get those clean, and resetting the lens is a piece of cake, and it will last for many years. Smearing a coat on top may not be successful, and is not likely to look too good.

04-21-2009 11:43 PM

sailingfool

If your issue is that the lens in a hatch is leaking, then you should just remove and rebed the lens...using only silicone, unless the OEM has a different specific recommendation. It's a simple job, the work is mostly removing the old sealant from the lens and the alu frame. Get those clean, and resetting the lens is a piece of cake, and it will last for many years. Smearing a coat on top may not be successful, and is not likely to look too good.

04-21-2009 04:29 PM

AllThumbs

Bene,

If you eventually plan to replace the deadlight just use silicone to seal it up as best you can. If the surfaces are clean I imagine it will stay there for a year. You are sealing between the plexy and the aluminim frame correct?

04-21-2009 04:12 PM

tommays

Bene

You are dealing with massive damage from small leaks that rot interior wood

04-21-2009 03:21 PM

sailingfool

All sealants have their proper and/or preferred uses, and silicone has a number of such on boats...usually where flexibility, removeability and thickness are important criteria. FWIW what comes to my memory are the OEM instructions for Beckson opening ports and replacement lens for several hatches ( see DIY-BOAT.COM - Hatch Lens Replacement 4/20/01) which specified to use only silicone as sealants.

04-21-2009 03:02 PM

tommays

Boatlife makes Sillycone and polysulfide (Life-Calk) and a combo (LifeSeal)

It use to be fun when they were down the street as i use to repiar there tube filling machines and stock-up

My boats PO used most everything and the only downside i have seen so far is you REALLY cant get the Sillycone OFF to the point of lifting gel coat BUT it did NOT leak

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